The superintendent of Ira Township's water plant is reassuring residents their water is safe.

Chris Hiltunen said the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality tested the township's water for per- and polyfloroalkyl substances for the first time in January.

The samples showed 3.28 parts per trillion of PFAS in Ira Township water, according to the DEQ report. While no maximum contaminant level has been established for the substances by the Environmental Protection Agency, it has established a lifetime health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion.

"We got the results back and we were very relieved to see the levels that came back were so low," Hiltunen said.

PFAS are a group of chemicals that are resistant to heat, water and oil, according to the report. The EPA has classified them as an emerging contaminant nationwide. They are commonly used in products including carpeting, waterproof clothing, upholstery, firefighting foam and food paper wrapping.

According to the report, the DEQ recommended Ira Township test its water for the substance after recent testing of Lake St. Clair and the Clinton River showed PFAS.

Hiltunen said a meeting is scheduled with DEQ officials next Wednesday to determine the next step, which he believed will be quarterly testing to see if the levels change.

He said a news report with a headline reading toxic chemicals found in drinking water linked to the township has "spurred a panic" that is not necessary.

"It's not, it's untrue," Hiltunen said.

He also issued a statement, which was shared by many departments via social media.

"We want to assure the residents of the township that their water is safe to drink and that a boil water advisory has not been issued as there is no need," Hiltunen wrote. "The report indicated that these amounts were well below the reporting limit or level of quantification and should be considered estimated. According to the information provided by the MDEQ, these levels are not expected to cause adverse health effects."

Gov. Rick Snyder in December signed legislation that included a combined $23.2 million to address the public health issue of PFAS throughout the state.

“This is a national problem that continues to emerge across the country, and we are on the forefront of addressing this issue and how it affects groundwater and public health,” Snyder said in a statement in December. “I appreciate the Legislature providing funds for continuing efforts to seek answers and help communities statewide take action to address contaminated sites.”

According to the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, certain PFAS may affect growth, learning and behavior of infants and older children; lower a woman's chance of getting pregnant; interfere with the body's natural hormones; increase cholesterol levels; affect the immune system; and increase the risk of cancer.

Scientists are still studying the impact of exposure to PFAS, according to the agency.